You know, Mae Mae
Whenever you hear shoutouts on the radio or television, we cannot help but to laugh. We laugh because we always seem to have a family member or a friend who has that exact nickname. It is like, our government name was not fully representative to who we were, so we made nicknames that fit our persoanlity. You get a girl named Mabeline or Madea or Maysa or Mae or May or something of the like and you always get Mae Mae for some reason. It is something about shortening it up and doubling it up.
There are many famous Mae’s. One of the most famous is Mae West. She was a woman known for getting and pleasing her man. I think, the least known but most prominient African American Mae, is Mae Jemison. At the age of 16, she went to Stanford University earning a double major in African-American studies and Chemical Engineering. Although born in 1956, she still felt the brutal hand of prejudice due to her race and gender. However, like most great people, she used this as motivation to fuel her to the next level. For Mae Jemison, the next level would literally be the next frontier. Not only did she work for NASA, but she actually went into space in September of 1992 as a Mission Specialist.
Mae Jemison is rare blend of intelligence (the AKA in her), beauty, strength, and conviction. The true sign of a leader is not what they do to make it to the top, alone. But how they inspire and help others set and attain those goals. She continues to uplift many young Americans through her profiles of courage and continued dedication to reach the next level through camps, foundations, workshops, speeches, and lectures.
Bottom Line: Mae Jemison could fly into space, because she saw Bessie Coleman fly in the sky. How will you take your dream to the next level???….
To the stars and beyond….
The BLAQUESMITH
